Eamonn Doherty

This article is about the Gaelic footballer. For the soccer player, see Eamon Doherty.

Eamonn Doherty (born 1990/1) is an Irish Gaelic footballer who plays for St Eunan's and the Donegal county team.

Eamonn Doherty

Personal information
Irish name	Éamonn Ó Dochartaigh
Sport	Gaelic football
Position	Back
Born	1990/1 Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Occupation	Secondary school teacher
Club(s)
Years	Club
2007–	St Eunan's
Club titles
Donegal titles	6
Inter-county(ies)
Years	County
2013–	Donegal
Ulster titles	2

He is a secondary school teacher in Buncrana.

Playing career

Club

Eamonn Doherty started his club's winning senior county finals in 2007, 2009 and 2012 and came on as a substitute in 2008.^[1][2][3][4] This was all by the age of 24 and national media referred to him as "one of the most decorated players in the north-west".^[5] He made a second-half substitute appearance in the final as his club won the 2021 Donegal Senior Football Championship.^[6]

Inter-county

Doherty played for Donegal throughout the 2010 Ulster Under-21 Football Championship campaign, a competition which Donegal won.^[7][8] He then played in the final of the 2010 All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship, which Donegal (managed by Jim McGuinness) narrowly lost to Dublin (managed by Jim Gavin).^[9][10] Himself, Antoin McFadden, James Carroll and Declan Walsh transferred to Boston for the summer in 2011.^[11]

McGuinness gave Doherty his senior league debut came against Dublin in Ballybofey in the final game of the 2013 National Football League, having only called him up days earlier.^[12][13] He made an immediate impact, colliding with the referee, leaving him flattened in a heap and taking him out of the game.^[14]

Doherty started Rory Gallagher's first match in charge of the county, a 2015 Dr McKenna Cup away defeat to Derry.^[15] Having flattened the referee in a heap and taken him out of the game, Doherty did not play in the National Football League again until 2015, his second appearance also coming against Dublin.^[16] That year, he featured in six of Donegal's eight National Football League Division One fixtures and started at Croke Park against Galway in the Championship when Karl Lacey did not recover from an injury in time.^[5][17][18]

Doherty started the opening fixture of the 2016 National Football League away to Down.^[19] He then started the second fixture against Cork, a ten-point win in Ballyshannon.^[20] He also started the third, fourth and fifth fixtures against Mayo, Kerry and Roscommon.^[21][22][23] He made a late substitute appearance in the seventh fixture, away to Monaghan in Castleblayney.^[24]

Doherty made a late substitute appearance in the 2016 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship qualifier defeat of Cork at Croke Park.^[25]

Doherty made a substitute appearance in the opening fixture of the 2017 National Football League against Kerry.^[26] He also made substitute appearances in the second, third and fourth fixtures against Roscommon, Dublin and Cavan.^[27][28][29] He started the fifth, sixth and seventh fixtures against Tyrone, Monaghan and Mayo.^[30][31][32]

Doherty made a substitute appearance in the 2017 Ulster Senior Football Championship semi-final against Tyrone.^[33]

Doherty scored a point against Tyrone in the 2018 National Football League.^[34]

Though restricted to substitute appearances for much of the competition, Doherty lifted the Anglo-Celt Cup as Donegal secured the 2018 Ulster Senior Football Championship.^[35] He made his two substitute appearances in the preliminary round against Cavan and the semi-final against Down.^[36][37][38] He started against Dublin in the 2018 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, scoring a point at Croke Park as his county gave the reigning All-Ireland champions their toughest test since the previous year's All-Ireland final.^[39]

Doherty started against Clare in the opening fixture of the 2019 National Football League in Ennis.^[40] He also featured in the second fixture against Meath, the fourth fixture against Fermanagh and the sixth fixture against Cork, all from the start.^[41][42][43] Donegal qualified for the National Football League Division 2 final and Doherty made a substitute appearance in the game as Donegal defeated Meath to win the title.^[44]

He made a late substitute appearance in the 2019 Ulster Senior Football Championship quarter-final victory over Fermanagh, though he did not feature in the semi-final victory over Tyrone or in the final against Cavan, which Donegal won.^[45][46][47] Then, with Neil McGee injured, Doherty came in from the start in Donegal's 2019 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship quarter-final meeting with Kerry at Croke Park.^[48]

Personal life

Doherty is from Letterkenny.^[49] He took up a position as a secondary school teacher in Buncrana, having completed his degree at Dublin City University (DCU) in 2013. In his first year as a qualified teacher one of his students was Darach O'Connor, who started the 2014 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final.^[5]

Doherty's brother Niall, an accountant, has served as treasurer of the St Eunan's club.^[50]

As of June 2020, Doherty lives in Letterkenny.^[49]

Honours

Donegal

• Ulster Senior Football Championship: 2018^[35] 2019^[45][47]
• National Football League Division 2: 2019^[44]
• All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship runner-up: 2010^[9]
• Ulster Under-21 Football Championship: 2010^[8]

St Eunan's

• Donegal Senior Football Championship: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2021

References

1. "Final glory at last for Eunan's as Glenswilly fail on their big day". Irish Independent. 1 October 2007. Retrieved 1 October 2007.
2. "Kavanagh, Haran set up Eunan's". Irish Independent. 6 October 2008. Retrieved 6 October 2008.
3. "All too easy for Eunan's". Irish Independent. 5 October 2009. Retrieved 5 October 2009.
4. Keys, Colm (5 November 2012). "Eunan's accept Glenties gift in freak finish to Donegal final". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 8 January 2013. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
5. Foley, Alan (11 June 2015). "Eamonn Doherty's return home earns him greater role for Donegal". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
6. Campbell, Peter (7 November 2021). "St Eunan's overpower Naomh Conaill in Donegal SFC final". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
7. McNulty, Chris (7 April 2020). "The diary, the dream and Donegal's first steps to 'the other place'". Retrieved 7 April 2020.
8. "Ulster U21FC: Murphy leads Donegal to title". Hogan Stand. 8 April 2010. Retrieved 8 April 2010.
9. O'Toole, Fintan (6 April 2013). "Remember the last time that Jim Gavin managed against Jim McGuinness?: The opposing managers in tomorrow's Division 1 league tie in Ballybofey have come face to face before". The42.ie. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
10. . St Eunan's GAA. Archived from the original on 12 April 2015.
11. McNulty, Chris (13 September 2013). "SFC: Doherty keeps 'Eamon' high for St Eunan's". Donegal News. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
12. . RTÉ Sport. 7 April 2013. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
13. Keys, Colm (9 April 2013). "Donegal – the only team to embrace the drop". Irish Independent. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
14. "The accidental clash which injured GAA ref Padraig Hughes". The42.ie. 9 April 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
15. McNulty, Chris (4 January 2015). "Report: Rory Gallagher's experimental Donegal well beaten by Derry". Donegal News. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
16. McNulty, Chris (11 February 2015). "Eamonn Doherty hopes his patience pays off". Donegal News. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
17. "Eamon Doherty hoping to play a role for Donegal in Armagh". Highland Radio. 11 June 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
18. "As it happened: Donegal v Galway, All-Ireland Senior football Round 4B Qualifier". The42.ie. 1 August 2015. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
19. Bannon, Orla (30 January 2016). "Disastrous return to Division One for Down as Donegal run riot in Newry". Irish Independent. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
20. "Cork crash to 10-point defeat as impressive Donegal go top of Division 1: Goals from Odhrán MacNiallais and Martin O'Reilly spurred Donegal to victory". The42.ie. 7 February 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
21. Campbell, Peter (28 February 2016). "Donegal march on beating Mayo". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
22. Leen, Tony (7 March 2016). "Dogged Kerry win arm wrestle". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
23. Campbell, Peter (13 March 2016). "Rossies signal greater intent after win over Donegal". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
24. Shalvey, Colm (3 April 2016). "Allianz FL D1: Last gasp Monaghan avoid relegation". Retrieved 3 April 2016.
25. O'Toole, Fintan (30 July 2016). "McBrearty inspires Donegal to battling win over Cork and sets up clash with Dublin". The42.ie. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
26. Foley, Alan (5 February 2017). "Geaney at the double as Kerry achieve first opening round league win under Fitzmaurice". The42.ie. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
27. Rooney, Declan (12 February 2017). "Donegal prevail late on against Roscommon". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
28. Foley, Alan (26 February 2017). "Murphy's injury-time free rescues a draw for Donegal as Dublin extend unbeaten run to 32 games". The42.ie. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
29. Fitzpatrick, Paul (4 March 2017). "Donegal strike early to see off Cavan". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
30. Kelly, Kevin (18 March 2017). "Allianz FL D1: Donegal too good for Tyrone". Retrieved 18 March 2017.
31. Foley, Alan (27 March 2017). "Late escape for Monaghan as Donegal pay penalty". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
32. Gannon, Colm (2 April 2017). "Aidan O'Shea's late introduction proves decisive as Mayo see off Donegal to avoid relegation". The42.ie. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
33. "The pendulum has swung decisively in Tyrone's favour in the battle of Ulster's giants following a runaway win at Clones". Irish Examiner. 18 June 2017. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
34. Bogue, Declan (10 March 2018). "Two-goal Tyrone move closer to safety with big win over Donegal in Omagh". The42.ie. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
35. Mooney, Francis (24 June 2018). . RTÉ Sport. Archived from the original on 25 June 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
36. McNulty, Chris (13 May 2018). "Ulster SFC: Donegal too good for Cavan". Retrieved 13 May 2018.
37. Mooney, Francis (27 May 2018). "McBrearty excels to fire Donegal past Derry". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
38. Mooney, Francis (10 June 2018). "14-man Donegal cruise past Down into Ulster decider". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
39. Sweeney, Peter (14 July 2018). "Dublin do enough to see off Donegal in Super 8s". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 14 July 2018. This too was their toughest workout since they beat Mayo to claim Sam Maguire last September.
40. Lynch, Derrick (27 January 2019). "Missing a host of regulars, Donegal come away from Clare with victory". The42.ie. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
41. Campbell, Peter (2 February 2019). "Fortuitous goal sees Donegal come back to beat Meath". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
42. Campbell, Peter (24 February 2019). "Fermanagh rally against 13-man Donegal to stay unbeaten in Division 2". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
43. Hurley, Denis (16 March 2019). "Cork on brink of drop to Division 3 as Donegal power home". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
44. O'Brien, Kevin (30 March 2019). "Murphy masterclass helps Donegal to Division 2 glory after comeback win over Meath". The42.ie. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
45. Mooney, Francis (26 May 2019). "Donegal overcome Fermanagh in Ulster arm-wrestle". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
46. Mooney, Francis (8 June 2019). "Donegal power past Tyrone to make Ulster decider". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
47. Sweeney, Peter (23 June 2019). "Donegal power past Cavan to claim Ulster title". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
48. Duffy, Emma (21 July 2019). "Kerry and Donegal share the spoils after grandstand finish in thrilling Super 8s battle: A scintillating game of football in Croke Park". The42.ie. Retrieved 21 July 2019. Both sides made three late changes before throw-in with some injury concerns coming to the fore. Big names David Moran and Neil McGee were among those absent for both sides… For Donegal, Eamonn Doherty came in for McGee while Caolan Ward and Eoin Murphy[sic - McHugh?] started in place of Daire Ó Baoill and Paul Brennan.
49. Scott, Ronan (4 June 2020). "Doherty's mood has changed to optimism". Donegal News. p. 54. The Letterkenny man has listened… 'I am lucky in that I live in Letterkenny, that there is a forest walk not far from me and I can get out for a run'. Also published in Gaelic Life.
50. "St Eunan's GAA Club presentation". Donegal News. 5 March 2020. p. 71. Former treasurer, Niall Doherty, was named club person of the year. Announcing the local accountant as the recipient of the award, former chairman, Cathal Greene, thanked Niall for his huge efforts in his role as treasurer. The photograph at the bottom of the page is then captioned: "Eamonn Doherty receives Club Person of the Year Award on behalf of his brother Niall from Club Chairman John Haran", with Eamonn Doherty on the left and John Haran on the right.